JEDDAH, 1 July 2007 -- Al-Aziziah Panda United Co.'s Saudization drive took a significant leap when it opened its new Hyper Panda at Alandalus Mall on Old Airport Road here yesterday. The company has signed a deal to employ 500 young Saudis in its Hyper Panda operations.
"After all, it is the corporate sector's social and national obligation to contribute to Saudization and we are pursuing this vigorously," Ahmed Omar Munshi, executive president operations at Al-Aziziah Panda United, who opened the new outlet, said. "This is our third Hyper Panda that will enhance the pride of the Red Sea city," he said.
"We have plans to cover all cities of the Kingdom with Pandas and Hyper Pandas," he said at the ceremony that was attended by senior executives of Savola Group.
Ramy Abdul Wahab Rajab, director general of marketing at Al-Aziziah Panda United, said the new branch was one of the largest hypermarkets of the company, with sales space totaling 12,000 sq m. It has 460 employees, 250 of them Saudi.
Several promotions are under way to mark the opening of the new hypermarket that has on offer fresh vegetables and fruit, meat, cheese, fish and varieties of other food and bakery items.
It has 53 points of sales and a parking area for 300 cars.
He said the company was pursuing a strategic plan to have 100 Pandas and 30 Hyper Pandas by 2010 throughout the Kingdom.
Riyadh-based Al-Aziziah Panda United Co. has marked several achievements. Recently, it received the "Best retail company in the Middle East" prize at a ceremony in Dubai.
Dr. Muhammad A. Kashgari, president of Aziziah Panda Co United and also of the retail section of Savola Group, said: "We are proud to get this prize, which is an honor to our society and a proof for the success of our continuous efforts in giving best offers and services."
The company is investing about SR900 million in 2007 to open 12 Panda markets and four hyper Panda markets across the Kingdom.
By K.S. Ramkumar
© Arab News 2007
